PRODUCT REVIEW: Casio Exilim EX-JE10

By Eva Fydrych

My Style. My Shot.

Casio Exilim EX-JE10 (Photo courtesy of Casio)

CAMERA MODEL

Casio Exilim EX-JE10 (Available in White, Pink, Black)

Recommended Retail Price: S$299

Casio Exilim EX-JE10, a cute little camera designed just for the ladies, combines performance and appearance. It has several interesting functions such as Premium AUTO, Make-up, Self-portrait, BEST SHOT, and ART SHOT (8 effects).

A colour-coordinated camera jacket and shoulder strap are bundled as accessories. They offer easy portability and immediate access when you have a photo opportunity. The pink model has a matte-textured pink case. While the bright pink colouring reminds a nail polish or lipstick effect, the crocodile skin finishing recalls fashion wallets and pouches and adds to the feminine touch. 

In terms of specifications, the JE10 comes with a 16.1 megapixel CCD sensor, a 5x optical zoom, a 26mm wide-angle lens, and a 2.7inch LCD display. It has an Anti Shake Mode, Face Detection, HD movie (which is compatible with YouTube so you don't need to resize your videos), and uses micro HD memory card.

A fisheye lens effect (Photo courtesy of Casio)

The camera also has a Make-up Function, which is similar to the in-camera retouch modes in some other compacts that's meant to make skin appear brighter and smoother. For more detailed specifications, click here.

What I really like about the camera is a small size and functionality. It has a simple design and isn't cluttered with buttons. It also has some additional touches that may not be necessary from the technical point of view, but they make the whole experience more fun:

• The user's guide has a girly floral cover.
• Raised operation buttons permit smooth handling, even with long fingernails.
• The glossy pink colour pairs perfectly with fashion items and small accessories.
• It fits into a clutch / evening handbag.
• The camera menu is available in three colours: pink, white, and black.

Selectable Menu Color (click to enlarge)

And what's even more interesting, with JE10 you don't need to have an extensive photography knowledge to produce really interesting, high-quality images. Example: when the camera detects backlighting, it automatically suppresses blackout of the subject and whiteout of the background. Natural gradations are reproduced for an image that looks just as great as the real thing. So basically, you don't need to worry about the lighting at all. The camera does it for you! :)

In the next article, I will be testing more camera functions bringing you the latest fashion news at the same time. And if you would like to try Exilim EX-JE10 yourself, Casio Singapore will be holding an exciting photo contest on their official Facebook page very soon. Stay tuned for more details!

Eva Fydrych

7 DAYS PROJECT: Casio Exilim EX-JE10

Photo by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine (click to enlarge)

There are several occasions when I need my digital camera (I actually find it useful to carry it with me all the time!), but the most common situations are:

• capturing street trends (challenge: the object is moving, you need to be really fast)
• window displays (challenge: glass reflection, poor lighting)
• products (such as clothes, shoes, beauty products, food etc.)
• shop and hotel interiors (fashion boutiques and stylish boutique hotels)
• events (challenge: taking pictures with flash, small space, a lot of people)
• catwalk (challenge: the models are moving, lighting is constantly changing, sometimes you don't have a good spot)

Photo by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine

As you all know, it is easy to take pictures when there is a good lighting, the object is still, and we have plenty of time to experiment. The challenge comes when the conditions are far from perfect and you still want to get a decent shot. So I decided to test the camera in many different situations to see if it actually meets my requirements. Due to my recent travelling schedule, Casio EX-JE10 has been used in both Singapore and Tokyo.

DAY 1

Window displays at night

Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine

CAMERA SETTINGS*

Auto, Flash Off, Picture Size: 3M (2048x1536), Quality: Normal, White Balance: Auto, ISO: Auto.

* I used those basic camera settings most of the time. Selected photos were taken in Premium AUTO mode. I will be testing more advanced functions in my next article.

Zara at Somerset 313 (All photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)

Cotton On at Somerset 313, Singapore

Forever 21 at Somerset 313, Singapore

Desigual at Orchard Central, Singapore

Desigual at Orchard Central (All photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)

Inside Desigual at Orchard Central (Flash On, Quality: Fine, Other settings as above)

Quality: Fine, Other settings as above

Quality: Fine, Other settings as above

Prada handbag, ION Orchard, Singapore (Quality: Fine, Other settings as above)

Yayoi Kusama for Louis Vuitton at ION Orchard, Singapore 

DAY 2

Outdoors

LOVE sculpture at Somerset (All photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)

CAMERA SETTINGS

Auto, Flash Off, Picture Size: 3M (2048x1536), Quality: Fine, White Balance: Auto, ISO: Auto.

Small park next to Killiney Road post office, Singapore

Sculpture at the roof terrace at Orchard Central, Singapore

DAY 3

Street Style

Captured in H&M, Orchard Road  (All photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)

CAMERA SETTINGS

Auto, Flash Off, Picture Size: 3M (2048x1536), Quality: Fine, White Balance: Auto, ISO: Auto.

A stylish Japanese man in Shibuya, Tokyo

DAY 4

Products

Japanese fashion magazines, bookstore in Akasaka, Tokyo

As I am currently in Tokyo attending Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week TOKYO SS 2013, I decided to use this opportunity and capture some stylish products that can be found in the local shopping malls and fashion boutiques.

CAMERA SETTINGS

Auto, Flash Off, Picture Size: 3M (2048x1536), Quality: Fine, White Balance: Auto, ISO: Auto.

VIA BUS STOP gloves, Shibuya Hikarie, Tokyo

VIA BUS STOP handbags, Shibuya Hikarie, Tokyo

VIA BUS STOP clothes & accessories, Shibuya Hikarie, Tokyo

VIA BUS STOP handbag, Shibuya Hikarie, Tokyo

DAY 5

Fashion Show

All photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine

All catwalk photos were taken during everlasting sprout Spring/Summer 2013 show at Shibuya Hikarie (designer: Keiichi Muramatsu). And while that may not be a magazine material, I think the quality for such a small camera is really good. You can clearly see all the designs.

Shooting this show was especially difficult as the models were always in motion and never stopped to pose for the pictures.

CAMERA SETTINGS

Premium Auto, Flash Off, Picture Size: 3M (2048x1536), Quality: Fine, White Balance: Auto, ISO: Auto.

everlasting sprout SS 2013, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week TOKYO, 17 October 2012

DAY 6

Urban Landscape

Outside Shibuya station, Tokyo (Photo by Eva Fydrych)

CAMERA SETTINGS

Premium Auto, Flash Off, Picture Size: 3M (2048x1536), Quality: Fine, White Balance: Auto, ISO: Auto.

Street in Akasaka, Tokyo

Roofs of Akasaka (Settings: Best Shot: MONOCHROME effect)

DAY 7

Interiors

Inside Narita Express train, Tokyo (Photo by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)

CAMERA SETTINGS

Premium Auto, Flash Off, Picture Size: 3M (2048x1536), Quality: Fine, White Balance: Auto, ISO: Auto.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week TOKYO lounge, Shibuya Hikarie, Tokyo

Beauty floor at Shibuya Hikarie, Tokyo 

Bathroom interiors (Settings: Auto, Other settings as above)

 Stylish lamp at Shibuya Hikarie, Tokyo (Settings: Auto, Other settings as above)

 My wardrobe interiors :)

Entrance to Shibuya Hikarie, Tokyo

Escalator at Orchard Central, Singapore

*NO PART OF THIS SITE, OR ANY OF THE CONTENT CONTAINED HEREIN, MAY BE USED OR REPRODUCED IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER(S).  2012 Fashion Studio. All rights reserved. 

Some additional remarks:

• the camera is so small and light that it is really easy to take it everywhere I go
• it doesn't attract that much unwanted attention as a traditional DSLR
• it is user friendly and very straightforward to operate
• big LCD screen makes it fun to use
• it looks stylish and very girly
• the quality of the pictures is much better then I expected
• there is no need for post-processing or using Photoshop
• if you want sharper pictures, use Fine Quality and Auto Premium settings

Read more:

Three available colours. Photo courtesy of Casio. (click to enlarge)

Official Exilim JE10 website

Official Casio Exilim Singapore Facebook page

_______________________________________________________________________

* Special thank you to omy.sg and Casio Singapore for the opportunity to review Exilim EX-JE10.